240 THE ESSENTIALS OF AGRICULTURE 



or ''black," bee still persists, but is rarely found pure. Nearly 

 all of the hybrids in the country are crosses between Italian and 

 German bees. In some localities either the Carnolians or the 

 Cyprians are found, but these races have never become popular 

 in the United States. 



Some of the principal nectar-producing plants are the clovers, 

 especially white clover and sweet clover, buckwheat, mountain 

 sage, goldenrod, catnip, horseweed, black gum, linden (bass- 

 wood), tulip, sourwood, magnolia, locust, chestnut, and mesquite. 



Honey is in demand in almost all markets throughout the 

 year. The rate at which thrifty bees store honey in favorable 

 seasons makes the bee-keeping industry much more remunera- 

 tive than is ordinarily appreciated. Too often, the farmer 

 expects his bees to produce honey without any of the kind of 

 care needed by all productive farm animals. 



QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS 



1. What is the relative importance of the sugar crop in the world as 

 compared with other crops. 



2. What are the most important sources of the sugar produced in the 

 United States? 



3. What are the regions in the United States in which sugar beets are 

 most extensively grown ? 



4. What countries have the greatest total acreage of sugar beets? 



5. Describe the soil, climate, and methods of cultivation which are 

 best for sugar beets. 



6. Describe the sugar-cane plant, its cultivation, and the processes of 

 making sugar from it. 



7. What part of the world's sugar is made from sugar cane? What 

 are the principal cane-sugar producing countries ? 



8. What is the history of the maple sugar and sirup industry? How 

 important is the maple sugar industry ? 



9. Secure from a text in zoology or from an experiment-station bulletin 

 a good description of the kinds and number of honey bees which compose 

 a hive. Describe the colonial life of honey bees. 



10. In what ways could the growth of bees be made more profitable in 

 your community? 



